Railway-traffic-controlling apparatus



Dec. 20, 1927. 1,653,368

R. A. MOCANN RAILWAY TRAFFIC CONTROLLING APPARATUS Filed Feb- 1924INVENTOR lQ-Q: WW

Patented Dec. 20, 1927.

' UNITED: STATES I PATENT RONALD A; McoaNN; 0F SWISSVALE,PENNSYLVALTIIA; ASSIGNQR To THE UNION swmorr- 8c'SIGNAL COMPANY, 101*swIssv-ALE, EN SYLVANIA, ,A CORPORATION 0F PENNSYLVANIA;

RAiLWAY-TRAFFIC-CONTROLLING .arrniin'rnsl Application filed February Myinvention relates to" railway traffic controlling apparatus, and particiilarly to apparatus of the type, comprising train carried governingmeans controlledby energy received from the traekWay More p'articu--larly, my invention relates to the trackW-ay matic View showing one formor traclnyay apparatus embodying. 11'1yinvention,'

Referring to this drawing, the reference characters 1 and 1 designatethe track: ails oi? a railway over which trafiic normally moves in thedirection indicated by the .arrow. These railsare divided, by means oiinsulated joints 2, into a plurality of sucf cessive track sectionsAflB, B-C, C-D, DE, EF, etc. Each such tracksection' is provided With atrack battery designated by the reference character Q with an exponentcorresponding to the location and connected across the rails adjacentthe eXitfend 0t thesect-ion. A resistance 16lis interposed between eachtrack battery Q andone rail 1* ofthe corresponding section in the usualEach track section is also provided with a track relay designated by thereference character R with an appropriate exponent and connectedacrossthe rails adjacent the entrance end of the correspondingsection.Eachtrack rclayR is responsiveto current supplied thereto fronrthe trackbatteryQ, located at the opposite end of the corresponding section.

Traflic overthe stretch of trackshown in v the drawing is controlledbyWayside sig- .nals designated by the reference characters S withsuitable exponents and located at intervals along the trackWay. Each ofthe signals Smay be ofanysuitable form and as here shown isof the;semaphore type, and each such signal is capable of giving a stop? and aproceedv indication. I

Associated' -ith each of the trackfrelays except relays R? and R is anauxiliary relay designated by the. reference character 6, 1924. SerialNo; 690,934. I

G With a suitable distinguishing exponent.

Signals S and S are controlled overa circuit which may be traced fromoneter minal .O of a-suitable source of energy not shown in the drawing,through front con tact 17 of track relay'R Wire 18 front con tact 19 oftrack relayvR wire 20, Winding of' relay G ;wi1-e 21, front contact-2Qof track relay R Wire'23, Winding of relay,

G Wire 24, operating mechanism o'fsignal S Wire 25, front contact 26, oftrack'relay R wire 27 ,"o'perating}mechanism of signal S ire 28', backcon'tact'29 of track relay R and wircs iiO and X back totheotherterminal P of the energy source. It is thereforeplain' that itrelays R R R and 'R 'are energized, the relay 1 is deenergized, theoperating circuit for signals S and .S is closed, thus-causing thesesignals to display proceed indications. At the same time relays G and Gare energized, it bemg noted that the latter relaysare includ ed inseries" with" the operating mechanism 01 signals S and S The circuitjust traced isprovided with a branehwhich passes from Wire 25, throughbackcontact 26 of track relay. R Wire 31, to common ire X. "It istherefore cleantha't When'r'elayR isde energiZedsignal S is'de-energized bnt sigm1 S still indicates proceed and relays G and arestill" energized over backcontact- 26 of relay .Another branch 1sprovided which may be traced from wjneQI,

through back contactQtZ of track relay R and'w'ire' 32 to wire If relayIt is deenergized, curator-e, and relays R and'R' are"bo'tlifenergized,signals S and. S will.

both indicate stop, relay G will be'de-enen gized, and relay G fWill-beenergizedl i The controlIof'signalsS and S and relays G aiid G will bereadily understood from the foregoing.

Each track section is provided wvith'a "track transformeddesignated bythe refer ence, character Kfwi'th an exponent'correspondmg to thelocation and having its secondary, Winding 14: nter-posed between theassociatedtrack"battery Q and onerail of the corresponding section. Animpedance 15. 1s nterposed between the secondary winding 14: ofeaclrtrac'k' transformer K so i and one rail 1 of the correspondingsection in the usual manner.

Associated with each track section is a line transformer designated bythe reference character T with a distinguishing exponent. The primarywinding 8 of each such .lin-e transformer is constantly supplied withalternating current from some suitable source of energy such as analternator H over line wires 3 and 3.

Track transformer K is at times energized over a circuit which passesfrom secondary 9 of line transformer T through wire 33, primary winding13 of tracktransformer K wire 34, front contact 35 of track relay R andwire 36 back to secondary 9 of line transformer T Track section BC istherefore supplied with alternating track circuit current bytracktransformer former K K when relay R is energized. The supply ofalternating track circuit current to sec tion 19-]? is controlled bytrack relay R in the same manner as that just described for section BC.I

Track transformer K is provided with a circuit which passes fromsecondary 9 of line transformer T through wire 37, back contact 38 ofauxiliary relay G wire 39, primary 13 of track transformer K wire 40,back contact 41 or relay G and wires 42 and 43 back to secondary 9 ofline transformer T. This circuit is closed only when relay G isdeenergized, under which condition section CD is supplied withalternating track circuit current of one relative polarity, which I willterm reverse relative polarity. When relay G is energized current flowsfrom secondary 9 of transformed T through wire 37, front contact 41 ofrelay G wire 40, primary 13 of transformer K wire 39, front contact 38of relay G and wire 43 back to secondary 9 of transformer T then thiscircuit is closed alternating track circuit current of the otherrelative polarity, which I will hereinafter term normal relativepolarity, is supplied to section C-D from trans- The partial sectionsimmediately to the left of point A and immediately to the right of pointF are supplied with alternating track circuit current in the same manneras section CD.

When relay G is energized current flows from secondary 9 of transformerT through wire44, primary 13 of transformer K wire 45, front contact 46of relay G and wire 47 back to secondary 9 of transformer T WVhen th scircuit is closed alternating track circuit current of normal relativepolarity issupplied to section DE by transformer K Transformer K iscontrolled in the same manner as transformer K Means are also providedfor supplying the rails of each section in parallel with an alternatingcurrent which I will hereinafter term a local current. For this purposeI provide each section w1th an impedance 4 connected across the rails adacent the entrance end of the section, and a similar improvided alsowith two impedances (rand 6 connected across the rails at anintermediate point in the section. Local current is supplied by localtransformers designated by the reference characters L with appropriateexponents. 'Iheprimary 10 of each local transformer I; is constantlysupplied with alternatingcurrent from the secondary 9 of an associatedline transformer T. Sec tion B-C is constantly supplied with localcurrent from a circuit which may be traced J: 7 I irom secondary 12oflocal transformer L through wire 49, impedance 4 in section BC,through both rails of the section in parallel to impedance 7, and wire50 back to secondary 12 of transformer L Section E-F is provided with alocal circuit similar to that just described for section BC.

Section C-D is provided with one local circuit which passesfrom'secondary 11 of local transformer L through wire 51, impedance 4i1rsection'CD, through both rails of the section in parallel toimpedance 5, and wire 52 back to secondary 11 of transformer L Anotherlocal circuit is provided for this section over which current fiowsfromsecondary 12 of transformer L through wire 53, impedance 6 in sectionCD, through both rails of the section in parallel to impedance 7, wire54, front contact 55 of relay G and wire 56 back to secondary 12 oftransformer L. It is therefore obvious that section C--D is constantlysupplied with local current between impedances 4 and 5, and is suppliedwith local current between impedances 6 and 7 when relay G is energizedbut not when the relay is de-energized. T he .local circuits for thepartial section to the left of point A and the partial section to theright of point I are similar to the local circuits for section CD. Thelocal circuit for section Dlil may be traced from the secondary .11 oftransformer L, through wire 57, impedance 4 in section DE, through bothrails of the section in parallel to impedance 7, through wire 58, frontcontact59 of relay G ,'and wire 60 back to secondary 11 of. transformerL Section I) E is thereforesupplied with local current only when relayGr" is energized. The supply of local current to section AB iscontrolled by relay G in the samemanner as thesupply of local current tosection D--E by relay G Before explaining the operation of thisapparatus as a whole it should be pointed relay R out that the trackwayapparatus herein shown and described is suitable-tor co-operation withtrain carried governing means in the following inannerz' When a, trainoccupies a portion of track which is supplied with local current andwith track circuit current of normal relative polarity, a pro-v ceedindication ,is-received on the train; when the tra n occupies a stretchof track which is supplied withflocal current and with track circuitcurrent the relative pos lar ty of either of wh ch currents is reversed,

a caution,i'ndication is received on the train;

and whenthe train is on a portionof track from which the sup'plyofeither local. cure rent or track circuit current is discontinued v astop indication is received on the train;

As shown in thefdrawing the parts of the appa 'atus alloccupy theirnormal posi- 'tions, that is, the positions corresponding to anunoccupied,condition on the track. In this condition each of the trackrelaysR is energized, each otthe signals S indicates stop, and each ofthe relays G is de-energized. i v

I will now assume that a train moving in the direction of the arrowpasses through the stretch of track shown in the drawing.

As the train enters section B-C, the deenergization of track relay Rcloses the circuit forsignals SCand' S and these signals thereforeindicate proceed, fAtthe same time, of course", relays G and G areenergized. Section B -C is supplied constantly with local current, andrelay R being energized, thissection is also supplied vvitlrtrackcircuit current of normal relat ve polarity.

The train therefore receivesja proceed indication as it proceeds throughsection B'C. hen thetrain passes signal S the de-energization Of relay Rcloses the branch through wire 31 for signal and "relays G and G, butsignal S now indicates stop. Since relay G is energized, track circuit 1current oi? normal relativepolarity is supplied to section C D and localcurrent supplied tothis sect on between impedances (i and 7 over.Tll'OllllCOIlttLCt 55 ot relay G.

The train therefore receives a prec ed indication throughout sectionC:D.. 'A the train enters section D E relay R isdeenergized, thusinterrupting the circuit for relay G and signal S Signal S there foredisplays a stop indication, Relay G however, is still energized overback contact Track circuitjcurrent of normal relative polarity istherefore sup (ill plied to section D E transformei K and local currentis supplied to this section by secondary 11 of transformer LP. The

train therefore receives a proceedindicationi throughout section DElf"Section is also suppliedwith track, circnitcurrent' of normal relativepolarity and with local current, and the train therefore receives a yproceed indication throughout sect-ion EF.

' I will now} assume that a train, moving in the directionof the arrow,proceeds into vsection C;D and stops, and that a following train enterssection B- G. Due to the presence hot: the first train in section CD',relay R is de-energized and, signal S is at stop. The circuit for theprimary of transformer; K is therefore open, and the second train, beingdeprived of track circuit current, receives a stop indication throughoutsection B-C. "If the second train enters the 'occupicchsection, trackcircuit current from transformer K will be shunted from such secondtrain by the wheels and axles ,of'the train already occupying sectionG"D and the following train will continue to receive a stop indication.

If a train occuies section DE Sl HHlS S and S will indicate stop, andrelay G willbe de-energized. Relay R will be deenergized and relay Renergized. Under these conditions section BC is supplied with trackcircuit current of normal relative polarity and also with local current.Track circuit current of reverse relative polarity is suppliedto sectionCD- throughout its 'lengtlrand local current is suppliedto section C'Dbetween 1l11p8CllIlCS4 and 5 but notbetween impedances- 6 and 7. It, nowa tollowing' train proceeds pastpoint B, such train will receive aproceed indication between points 13 and C, a caution indication betweenpointC and impedance 5 in section C-D, but will receive astop indicationbetween impedance 6 and point D. The train will also receive a stopindication, as previously'explained, if it proceeds into the occupiedsection DE.'

It" section E F is occupied, relays R and G will both be tie-energized.The sup ply of train governing currentto sections 1 13 C and ,C D is thesame explained in connection with a train occupying section D. E but thesupply of both local current and track circuit-current to section D- Eis nowinterrupted. A train moving toward the scope of the appended caims without departing fronithe spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus dcscribed'my, invention, what I'cla'iniis: p p

1. Railway traffic controlling apparatus comprising a stretch of railwaytrack, a sig the right receives a. proceed indication nal for saidstretch, a relay,n1eans controlled by said relay for supplying saidstretch with periodic energy for the control of train-carried governingmeans, and integral means for controlling said signaland said relay. 2.Railway traflic controlling apparatus comprising a stretch of railwaytrack, a signal for said stretch, a relay, means controlled by saidrelay for supplying said stretch with periodic energy for the control oftrain-carried governing means, and integral means for controlling saidsignal and said relay in accordance with traffic conditions. i

3. Railway trallic controlling apparatus comprising a stretch ol railwaytrack, a signal for said stretch capable, oi? displaying at least twodifferent indications, a relay, in-

tegral means for controlling said relay and I said signal in accordancewith trafiic conditions, and means controlled by said relay forsupplying said stretch with periodic energy for the control oftrain-carried governing means when the signal is displaying oneindica-tion but not when the signal displays a different indication.

4. Railway tr'athc controlling apparatus comprising a stretch of railwaytrack, a signal for said stretch, a. relay, an operating circuit forsaid signal including a winding of said relay, and means controlled bysaid relay for supplying energy to saidstretch for the control oftrain-carried governing means.

5. Railway trailic cont-rolling apparatus comprising a stretch ofrailway track, a signal for said stretch, a relay. an operating circuitfor said signal includinga winding of said relay and controlledbytraflic conditions, and means controlled by said relay for supplyingcurrent to said stretch for the control of train-carried governingmeans.

6. Railway trattic controlling apparatus comprising a stretch of railwaytrack, a signal for said stretch, a relay, an operating circuit-:liorsaid signal including a winding of said relay and controlled by trafficconditions in rear oi said stretch, and means controlled by said relaytor supplying current to said sti etch.

7. Railway traliic controlling apparatus comprising a stretch of railwaytrack, a signal for said stretch, a relay, an operating nal for saidstretch, a relay, an operating circuit for said signal including awinding, of said relay, and a local circuit for said stretch controlledby said relay for the con trol of train-carried governing means.

9. Railway trafiic controlling apparatus comprising a stretch of railwaytrack, a sig-- nal for said stretch, a relay, an operating comprising astretch of railway track and train carried governing means responsive tocurrent flowing insaid stretclnthe combinationwith the atore-mentionedinstrumentalities of a trackway signal, a relay, an operating circuitfor said signal including a winding of said relay and controlled bytrafiic conditions, and meanscontrolled by said relay for supplying suchcurrent to said stretch. I V

11. Railway tra'l'lic controlling apparatus comprising a stretch ofrailway track, a signal for said stretch, a relay, an operating circuitfor said signal including a winding of said relay, and means controlledby said relay for supplying said stretcliwith track circuit current ofone relative polarity or the other. 7

12. Railway trafiic controlling apparatus comprising a stretch ofrailway track, a signal for said stretch a relay, an operating circuitfor said signal including a winding of said relay, and means controlledby said relay for supplying said stretch with track circuiteurrent ofone relative polarity or the other, and for at times also supplying saidstretch with local current.

13. Railway traffic controlling apparatus comprising a stretch ofrailway track, a signal for said stretch, a relay, an operating circuitfor said signal including a winding of said relay, and means controlledby said relay for at'times supplying said stretch with local current andwith track circuit current of one relative polarity and for at othertimes supplying the stretch only with track circuit current of the otherrelative polarity.

14. Railway traflic controlling apparatus comprising a stretch ofrailway track, a signal for said stretch, a relay, an operating circuitfor said signal including a winding of said relay, and means controlledby said relay 'lor attimes supplying said stretch with local current andwith track circuit current and for at other times supplying said stretchlit) nal for said stretclna relay, an operating circult for saidsignalincluding awnidingof said relay, an'duneans controlled by said relay for supplying said stretch with track Cli'CLlli? current of onerelative, polarity orthe other throughout the length oithe stretch" andfor at times supplying local current to a po'rtion'only ofsaid str (ch.l

17, Railway traflic controlling ap 'iai'tith's comprising a stretch ofrailway track, a signal for said stretch norn'ially stop indication, an.operating crr'cuit effective when energized to 'causelsaidsignalto diplay a proceed indication, a'ielay included in said circuit, means'fo'rienerg inng said circuit when a train approaches the signal, andmeans controlled by sa d relay for supply ng current to said stretch.

18. Railway traliic controlling' apparatus comprising a'stret'c'h oirailway track, a signal for saidstretch arranged to at times display'astopj'indication, "an operating cir cuit effective when energized tocause said signalto display a proceed indication, a re lay includedinsaidfci'rcuit, means for energizing said circuit when a trainapproaches the signal, means for subsequently maintain iiig said circuitin its energized condition until the trainpasses the signal, and meanscontrolled by said relay for supplying periodic energy to thetr'ackwayfln rearfol said signal;

19. Railway trailic controlliiigapparatus comprising a stretch ofrailway"traclga signal "for said stretch, an operating circuit for saidsignal arrang'ed tobe energized when a I train approachessaid two relayseach having a windingincluded n said "circuit,

1neans controlled by one such relay'for supcom risin a stretch of railwa1 track a. si

nal for said. stretch; an. operating circuit for said signal arranged.to be energized. when a train. approaches said signal, two relays eachhaving a winding included in said circuit, and means controlled by saidtwo relaysfor supplying alternating current to the trackway. i

22. Railway traflic controlling apparatus comprising a stretch ofrailway track, a signal for said stretch, an operating c1rcu1t for Isaid signal arranged tovbe energized when a train approaches saidsignal, two relays'each displaying a having a winding: included in saidcircuit,

cal current. I l

23. Railway traflic, controlling apparatus comprising astretch ofrail'way'tr'ack, a s1gsi'ipplying thetrackw'ay with alternating 10- milforsaidstretch, an operating'circuit for said signal arranged to beenergized when a train approaches said signal, tworelays each havingwinding included in said circuit, means controlled by o'nefsaid relayfor supplying alternating current to a portion of the 'trackway andmeans controlled by the other said relay for supplying alternatingcurrent to adifi'e'rent portion of the track- 'y in a a 2LRailwaytraffic controlling apparatus comprising af'stretch of railwaytrack, a sig-[ nali'or said stretch, an operating 'ClICIllt for saidsignal arrangedto be energized when a train approaches said signal, tworela seach having a winding included in said circuit, means controlledby one said relay for supplying a portion of the trackway with trackcircuit current and 'withlocal current, and

means controlled bythe other said relay for supplying track circuitcurrent andloca-l current to a different portion of said track- Wfliy. jg

' 25. Railway traff c controlling apparatus comprising a section ofrailway track, a 1 source of direct current connected with the rails ofsald section, a track relayconnected with the rails of said section andresponsive to current from saia source, atrackwa y signal, an operatingcircuit for said signal controlled in part by said't-rack relay, anauxiliary relay having a e winding included in said circuit, means forenergizing said circuit when a train approaches said signal, and meanscontrolled by said auxiliary relay for supplying said section withalternating current. a

26. Railway traflic controlling apparatus comprising a stretch ofrailway track, a sig-.

nal for said stretch, a relay, an electrical circuit including theoperating mechanism of said signal and a winding of said relay inseries,-means for closing said circuit when a train approachessaidsignal and means controlled by said relay for supplying said andm'eans'controlled by said tworelays for i ioo I ll) ll5 I stretch withalternating current for the c0ntrol of train-carried governing means,

27. Railway traflic controlling apparatus comprising a stretch ofrailwaytrack, a sig- "nal for said stretch normally indicating'stop,

a relay, an operating circuit arranged to be closed when a. trainapproachessaid signal and including a WlDCllIlgOf sa d relay, and

means controlled bysaid relay for supplying periodic energy to saidstretch for the control of train-carried governing means.

28. In combination, a stretchof railway track, asignal for said stretchnormally indicating stop but arranged to indlcate proceed when a trainapproaches the signal, and means for supplying said section with trackcircuit current for the control of t'ain-carried governing means whensaid signal in dicates proceed but for at times discontinuing suchsupply when said signal indicates stop. 7

29. In combination, a stretch of track, a direct current trackcirc-uitfor said stretch, a signal normally indicating stop, means controlled inpart by said track circuit for causing said signal to display a proceedindication when a train approaches said signal, and means controlled inaccordance with the indication displayed by said signal for supplyingalternating current to said stretch for the control of train-carriedgoverning means. 30. In combination, a stretch of track, a directcurrent track circuiti'orsaid stretch, a signal normally indicatingstop, means controlled in part by said track circuit for causing saidsignal to display aproceed in dication when atrain approaches saidsignal, and means for supplying alternating currentof one relativepolarity or the other to said stretch in accordance with the indi cationdisplayed by saidsignal.

31. In combination, a stretch of track, a direct'current track circuitfor said stretch, a signal normally indicating stop, means controlled inpart by said track circuit for causing said signal to display a proceedin dication when a train approaches said sig nal, and means for applyingacross the rails of-said stretch an alternating electron iotiye force ofone relativepolarity, or the other according as said signal displays astop or a proceed indication.

32. In combination, a section of railway track, a source of localcurrent normally disconnected from said section, andmeans controlled bya train approaching said section and also by a train occupying saidsection for supplying the two rails in multiple of Said section withlocal current from said source.

33. In combination, a section of railway track, a source of localcurrent normally disconnected trom said section, and means responsive totrafiic conditions in advance and controlled by a train approaching saidsection and also by a train occupyingsaid section for supplying the tworails of said sec tion in multiple with local current from said source.

34. In combination, a stretch of railway track, a signal for saidstretch normally indicating stop, an operating circuit for cans-- ingsaid signal to indicate proceed and arranged to be closed when a trainapproaches the signal, and means associated with said circuit forcontrolling the supply of local and track-circuit current to saidstretch.

35. In combination, a section of railway track, a normally open circuitfor supplying local current to the two rails of said section inparallel, and means controlled by a train approaching said section forcompleting said circuit. g

. In combination, a stretch of railway track, asource of alternatingcurrent norinally disconnected from said stretch, and means controlledby traffic conditions in advance for supplying the rails out the stretchwith tratlic controlling current of one relative polarity or the otherfrom said source when a train approaches said stretch.

In testimony whereof I atfix my si nature.

RONALD A. Mooixnn.

